Folding car-step.



No. 697,293. Patented Apr. 8, |902. 0. F. THUMAS.

FOLDING CAR STEP.

(Application led Jan. 27, 1902.i (No Model.)

Nrrnn STATES.

PATENT OFFICE,

OSCAR F. THOMAS, OF ADAMS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FORTII TO FRANK S. KENYON, OF ADAMS, NEW YORK.

FOLDING CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,293, dated April 8, 1902.

Application filed January 27, 1902. Serial No. 91.480. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, OSCAR F. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adams, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Oar-Steps; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, refe-rence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in folding steps for railwaycars; and it consists in t-he provision of means whereby the lower step may be folded back underneath the fixed steps and extended, thus providing a convenient means for mounting the steps or stepping from the same to the ground or platform, the folded step when extended being at such a location as will make it convenient for persons to step on and off the platform.

The invention consists, further, in various details of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and then specilically deiined in the appended claims, and is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this application, and in which drawings similar letters of referenceindicatc like parts in the several views, in which- Figure l is a perspective view showing'my improved car-step as extended. Fig. 2 is a view showing the step folded. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the hinged step-supporting members. Fig. ft is a sectional view vertically and also through the side pieces of the iixe'd step. Said rod O may beheld in any suitable manner, as' by means of a fixed head and Vthreaded nut, and preferably angled plates D are provided, which engage under the lower ends of the side pieces of the steps, and through which angled pieces said rod O passes. Pivotally mounted on the rod D are the stepsupporting members E, which are forked, having two arms t' and E2, thelower step being recessed adjacent to each end, as at F,

Vforming a space in which each member is adapted to fold back when not in use. To the forward arm E2 of each of said members is pivotally mounted a rod H, which rod passes through and supports the step K. Said step has, preferably, straps K', which pass about the ends, as illustrated, to protect the step against wear. The ends ofthe arms E are bent at right angles, as illustrated, and form brackets, on which the free swinging ends of the step are adapted to rest to support the step when heldin ahorizontal position. Each of the members E isfnotched, as at N, on its rear edge adjacent to its pivotal point, said notch being adapted to receive the wire C when the step is extended, whereby the rear movement of said members is limited. When the step is not in use, it may be folded back underneath the lower fixed steps of the car, and the arms E of the step-supporting member may be utilized as a convenient means whereby the step may be extended.

From the foregoing it will be observed that a step formed in accordance with my invention will be conveniently operated, either folded or extended, thus affording an easy and convenient means of access to and exit from the platform of a car,whereby elderly in iirm people or children may readily step onto or od the platform without the inconvenience of the usual high xed step.

While I have shown and described a speL IOO nation with the side pieces ofthe fixed steps, a rod supported thereby, st ep supporting members pivotaliy mounted on said rod, a pivoted step mounted on said members, angled portions of the members forming bracketarms to receive and support the swinging edge ofthe pivoted step, when extended, said step adapted to be folded between the lower fixed steps of the car, as set forth.

2. In combination with the side pieces of the fixed steps of the car, the rod supported thereby, folding step-supporting members, pivotally mounted on said rod, said members being forked a, rod supported in corresponding arms of said forked members, one arm of each member being bent at right angles, and adapted to form a bracket for supporting the free swinging edge of the step when in a horizontal position, a rod underneath the fixed step, against which the edges of said members are adapted to contact, to hold the folding step in a horizontal position, as set forth.

3. In combination with the side pieces of the fixed step, a rod supported thereby, the step-supporting members pivotally mounted on said rod, and adapted to turn in recesses in the bottom fixed step, a folding step and rod carried ti1ereby,wl1ich is pivotally mounted in said members, the angled portions of v the step-supporting members forming means to support the free swinging edge of the step, a rod C mounted in the side pieces of the fixed step, and adapted to receive the notched portions of the step-supportin g members, Whereby the folding step When extended, is held in a horizontall position, as set forth.

4. In combination with the side pieces of the fixed steps of a car, the bars B countersunken in the inner face of said side strips, a rod supported in the curved ends of said bars, the forked step-supporting members pivotall'y mounted on said rod, the angled arms E', and the folding step pivotally mounted on the arms E' of' saidmembers, a bar C supported by the side strips of the steps, and against which the notched edge of the stepsupporting members is adapted to contact, to hold the folding step in a horizontal position when extended, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR F. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

FRED B. WAITE, F. S. KENYoN.

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